|
The Holy Spirit is always coming, always arriving,
always present - - if we are open to receiving Him He lives in the now
of eternity. He comes with light and strength. The light is the gift of
wisdom, understanding, counsel, and knowledge. His strength is piety,
fear of the Lord, and fortitude (Isaias). We pray to God the Father,
through God the Son, in God the Holy Spirit. This type of prayer is
always answered because it is a humble prayer. Every humble prayer is
answered.
This prayer is like breathing. It is not we
ourselves who are praying; it is the spirit of God within us. “Come,
Holy Spirit, come!” If we live in the Holy Spirit the fruits of the Holy
Spirit will eventually show in our lives: charity, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty,
self-control, and chastity according to our state in life. These fruits
(Galatians 5) will show us just how much of the Holy Spirit we have
within us. They make an excellent examination of conscience!
We have as much of the Holy Spirit as we love
the Church because the Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church. The Holy
Spirit keeps the Church alive. It was the Holy Spirit that inspired the
Sacred Scriptures, that protects the teaching authority of the Church
from falling into error, that motivates the faithful to become perfect
as our Heavenly Father is perfect. He is the Spirit of Truth and Love.
This is how He wants us to participate in His mission: to share the
truth in love.
The Holy Spirit is the mutual love of God the
Father for God the Son, and the love of God the Son for God the Father.
He is the Spirit of Love. He it is who schools us to love God and keep
His commandments, and to teach us to love each other as God loves us. He
provides that light to our minds and that thrust to our wills to embrace
the Lord’s wishes at every moment of our lives. He is ever-ready to help
us if we are humble enough to call on Him.
We were sealed with the Holy Spirit at our
Baptism, and again at our Confirmation. He is sent for the forgiveness
of our sins in the sacrament of Penance and our on-going strength in the
sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. He is the finger of God that
effects the Ordination of the priest and confects the Holy Eucharist at
the invitation of the priest. If your marriage is holding together well,
thank the Holy Spirit.
But, most of all, thank the Holy Spirit for the
enfleshment of our God – Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit. This is the
greatest news the world has ever heard. Invite the Lord and Giver of
Life, the Holy Spirit, to do for you what He did for the Apostles on
Pentecost Sunday. With the guidance of Mary we never pray: “Our Holy
Spirit” because the Holy Spirit possesses us. |
